New Delhi, 02 April (H.S.):

Amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the Government of India has stated that the country has sufficient crude oil reserves to meet domestic demand for the next 60 days. In an inter‑ministerial press briefing, officials clarified that natural‑gas supply to all domestic consumers remains fully secured, and no shortage is expected in the near term; in the past month alone, about 3.33 lakh new Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections have been provided.

Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that refineries are operating at full capacity and there is no shortage of sulphur, while retail outlets continue to function normally.

Despite global price volatility, domestic fuel prices have remained unchanged. To maintain price stability, the Government has reduced excise duties on fuel, with part of the resulting burden being borne by oil‑marketing companies.

To support business and industrial activity, the Government has raised the commercial LPG‑cylinder quota by an additional 10% for eight states, on top of existing allocations. This move is intended to ensure smooth gas supply for commercial users while strengthening the long‑term transition to PNG‑based city‑gas distribution.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal informed reporters that the Government is closely monitoring the safety of Indian nationals in Iran and is assisting their evacuation through the Indian missions there. To date, approximately 1,200 Indian citizens have been helped to leave Iran via land routes to Armenia and Azerbaijan, with 996 reaching Armenia and 204 reaching Azerbaijan. Several other nationals have also been moved to safer locations within Iran itself.

The Government has expressed its appreciation to the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan for their cooperation.

Additional Secretary (Gulf) Asim Ar Mahajan said that the Ministry is closely tracking the situation in the Gulf and West Asia, giving the highest priority to the safety and welfare of overseas Indians. A dedicated control room is operational around the clock, while missions and consulates are running 24×7 helplines and coordinating regularly with community groups, state governments, and Union Territories to issue timely advisories.

Mahajan added that missions are working with local authorities to resolve visa, consular, and transit‑related issues, and special attention is being given to students. Coordination has been established with schools, education boards, and the National Testing Agency (NTA) for exams such as JEE and NEET, to ensure that students’ academic schedules remain unaffected.

Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Lav Agarwal stated that an inter‑ministerial group created on March 2 is ensuring real‑time, day‑to‑day coordination among key ministries, the Reserve Bank of India, and other departments. This is being supported by sub‑groups on perishable goods, an exporters’ helpline, and item‑level trade coordination. Measures such as flexibility in customs and port facilities, efficient cargo management, emergency‑response mechanisms, and relaxation of export‑credit rules are helping to keep trade and logistics flows smooth.

Additional Secretary Mukesh Mangal of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that all Indian seafarers in the West Asia region are safe, and no incidents involving Indian‑flagged ships have been reported in the past 24 hours. Eighteen Indian vessels, carrying 485 seafarers, are currently operating in the western Persian Gulf area.

The Directorate General of Shipping’s control room operates 24×7, and to date more than 975 Indian seafarers have been brought back from that region, including 11 in the last 24 hours.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar